Printing system, printing apparatus, printing method and program

ABSTRACT

An information providing server has information on plural printers. The information providing server provides a user of a portable terminal with the information on the plural printers by sending the information on the plural printers to the portable terminal. The portable terminal sends an e-mail to which a file to be printed is attached to a printer selected by the user. Each of the plural printers has a plurality of print conditions to which different e-mail addresses are respectively assigned. The printer that has received an e-mail specifies a print condition from an e-mail address indicating the destination of the e-mail. The printer then prints the file attached to the received e-mail under the specified print condition.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a printing system, a printingapparatus, a printing method and a program.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] In case of printing a file which is prepared by a user using acomputer, the computer converts data of the file to print data andoutputs the print data to a printer connected to the computer.

[0005] The printer prints the file using the print data supplied fromthe computer.

[0006] There may be a case where a user is out of an office and thereare no available printers so that the user cannot execute printing.

[0007] Even if there is an available printer, it takes time to set upthe connection of a computer to the printer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide aprinting system, a printing apparatus, a printing method and a programwhich ensure easy printing anytime and anywhere.

[0009] To achieve the object, a printing apparatus according to thefirst aspect of the invention comprises:

[0010] a receiving unit which receives an e-mail to be sent from anexternal terminal;

[0011] a data generating unit which generates print data for printing afile attached to the e-mail received by the receiving unit; and

[0012] a printing unit which prints the file by using the print datagenerated by the data generating unit.

[0013] The invention can ensure easy printing anytime and anywhere.

[0014] The printing apparatus may further include a memory unit whichstores a plurality of application programs for generating the printdata, and

[0015] the data generating unit may specify an application programcorresponding to a type of the file and generate the print data usingthe specified application program.

[0016] The printing apparatus may have a plurality of print conditionsto which different e-mail addresses are respectively assigned,

[0017] the printing apparatus may further include a condition specifyingunit which specifies a print condition from an e-mail address indicatinga destination of the e-mail received by the receiving unit, and

[0018] the printing unit may print the file under the print conditionspecified by the condition specifying unit.

[0019] The printing apparatus may further include:

[0020] a charge calculating unit which acquires a charge for printingthe file; and

[0021] a charge indicating unit which indicates the charge acquired bythe charge calculating unit to a sender of the e-mail.

[0022] The charge indicating unit may indicate the charge to the senderby sending an e-mail indicating the charge.

[0023] The printing unit may start printing in response to a printexecution instruction from a sender of said e-mail.

[0024] The print execution instruction may be supplied to the printingunit by an e-mail.

[0025] The printing apparatus may further include:

[0026] a number issuing unit which issues a receipt number to a senderof the e-mail, and

[0027] a number input unit through which the sender inputs the receiptnumber; and

[0028] the printing unit may start printing in response to the sender'sinputting the receipt number by operating the number input unit.

[0029] The printing apparatus may further include an amountdiscriminating unit which has a money slot to place money anddiscriminates an amount of money deposited, and

[0030] the printing unit may start printing when the amount of moneydiscriminated by the amount discriminating unit becomes equal to orgreater than the charge acquired by the charge calculating unit.

[0031] A printing apparatus according to the second aspect of theinvention comprises:

[0032] a downloader which downloads an object to be printed, stored inan external terminal, from the external terminal; and

[0033] a printing unit which prints the object to be printed downloadedby the downloader.

[0034] The printing apparatus may further include:

[0035] a medium slot to insert a portable recording medium on which datafor connecting the printing apparatus to the external terminal isstored, and

[0036] a reading unit which reads the data recorded on the portablerecording medium inserted into the medium slot; and

[0037] the downloader downloads the object to be printed from theexternal terminal using the data read by the reading unit.

[0038] The downloader may download one or more pieces of data stored inthe external terminal,

[0039] the printing apparatus may further include an index generatingunit which generates indexes of the one or more pieces of datadownloaded by the downloader, and a display unit which displays an indexscreen showing the indexes generated by the index generating unit,thereby allowing a user to select the object to be printed, and

[0040] the printing unit may print, as the object to be printed, dataselected on the index screen by the user.

[0041] The one or more pieces of data may be one or more e-mails sent tothe user,

[0042] the printing apparatus may further include a mail extracting unitwhich extracts an unopened e-mail from the one or more e-mailsdownloaded by the downloader, and

[0043] the display unit may display an index screen showing an index ofthe e-mail extracted by the mail extracting unit.

[0044] The printing apparatus may further include a mail sending unitwhich sends a reply mail corresponding to an e-mail printed by theprinting unit.

[0045] The printing apparatus may further include a statement memoryunit which stores data on a plurality of fixed statements,

[0046] the display unit may display a statement list screen showing alist of the plurality of fixed statements stored in the statement memoryunit, thereby allowing a user to select a fixed statement to be lo usedin the reply mail, and

[0047] the mail sending unit may prepare the reply mail using the fixedstatement selected on the statement list screen by the user.

[0048] The printing apparatus may further include a statementacquisition unit which acquires reply statement data to be used in thereply mail from an external device, and

[0049] the mail sending unit may prepare the reply mail using the replystatement data acquired by the statement acquisition unit.

[0050] The portable recording medium may store reply statement data tobe used in the reply mail,

[0051] the reading unit may read the reply statement data from theportable recording medium inserted into the medium slot, and

[0052] the mail sending unit may prepare the reply mail using the replystatement data read by the reading unit.

[0053] The printing apparatus may further have a deleting unit whichdeletes data of the e-mail downloaded by the downloader.

[0054] The downloader may acquire storage information indicating namesand storage positions of one or more pieces of data, stored in theexternal terminal, from the external terminal,

[0055] the printing apparatus may further include a display unit whichdisplays a data list screen showing a list of data stored in theexternal terminal using the storage information acquired by thedownloader, thereby allowing a user to select an object to be printed,and

[0056] the downloader may download data selected on the data list screenby the user as the object to be printed.

[0057] A printing system according to the third aspect of the inventioncomprises:

[0058] one or more printing apparatuses that print a file attached to ane-mail sent from a terminal device which is operated by a user; and

[0059] an information providing terminal which has information on theone or more printing apparatuses and provides the user with theinformation on the one or more printing apparatuses,

[0060] the information providing terminal including an apparatusinformation memory unit which stores the information on the one or moreprinting apparatuses and a transmitting unit which sends the terminaldevice that information among pieces of information stored in theapparatus information memory unit which is about a printing apparatusselected by the user, thereby providing the user with the information onthe printing apparatus selected by the user.

[0061] The information providing terminal may further include:

[0062] a location memory unit which stores location data indicatingset-up locations of the one or more printing apparatuses,

[0063] a requesting unit which makes a request of the user to provide adesired location to execute printing,

[0064] a retrieval unit which retrieves one or more printing apparatuseslocated near the desired location provided by the user, in accordancewith a predetermined rule, by using the location data stored in thelocation memory unit, and

[0065] a location providing unit which provides the user with the one ormore printing apparatuses retrieved by the retrieval unit by sending theset-up locations of the one or more printing apparatuses retrieved bythe retrieval unit to the terminal device; and

[0066] the transmitting unit may provide the user with information of aprinting apparatus set up at that one of the set-up locations of the oneor more printing apparatuses provided by the location providing unitwhich is selected by the user.

[0067] Each of the one or more printing apparatuses may have a pluralityof print conditions to which different e-mail addresses are respectivelyassigned,

[0068] each of the one or more printing apparatuses may comprise:

[0069] a condition specifying unit which specifies a print conditionfrom an e-mail address indicating a destination of an e-mail sent fromthe terminal device, and

[0070] a printing unit which prints the file under the print conditionspecified by the condition specifying unit.

[0071] A printing method according to the fourth aspect of the inventioncomprises:

[0072] a mail sending step of allowing a terminal device operated by auser to send a printing apparatus an e-mail to which a file to beprinted is attached;

[0073] a receiving step of allowing said printing apparatus to receivethe e-mail sent from the external terminal;

[0074] a data generating step of allowing said printing apparatus togenerate print data for printing a file attached to the received e-mail;and

[0075] a printing step of allowing said printing apparatus to print thefile by using the print data generated in the data generating step.

[0076] The printing apparatus may have a plurality of print conditionsto which different e-mail addresses are respectively assigned,

[0077] the printing method may further include a condition specifyingstep of allowing the printing apparatus to specify a print conditionfrom an e-mail address indicating a destination of the e-mail, and

[0078] the printing step may include a step of allowing the printingapparatus to print the file under the print condition specified in thecondition specifying step.

[0079] A printing method according to the fifth aspect of the inventionis executed by a printing apparatus, and comprises:

[0080] a downloading step of downloading an object to be printed, storedin an external terminal, from the external terminal; and

[0081] a printing step of printing the object to be printed downloadedin the downloading step.

[0082] The printing apparatus may have:

[0083] a medium slot to insert a portable recording medium on which datafor connecting the printing apparatus to the external terminal isstored, and

[0084] the printing method may further include a reading step of readingthe data recorded on the portable recording medium inserted into themedium slot; and

[0085] the downloading step may include a step of downloading data ofthe object to be printed from the external terminal using the data readin the reading step.

[0086] A program according to the sixth aspect of the invention allows acomputer connectable to a printer to serve as a printing apparatuscomprising:

[0087] a receiving unit which receives an e-mail to be sent from anexternal terminal;

[0088] a memory unit which stores a plurality of print conditions towhich different e-mail addresses are respectively assigned;

[0089] a condition specifying unit which specifies a print conditionfrom an e-mail address indicating a destination of the e-mail receivedby the receiving unit and memory contents of the memory unit; and

[0090] a printing unit which controls the printer to print a fileattached to the e-mail received by the receiving unit under the printcondition specified by the condition specifying unit.

[0091] A program according to the seventh aspect of the invention allowsa computer connectable to a printer and a reading apparatus for readingdata recorded on a portable recording medium to serve as a printingapparatus comprising:

[0092] a reading unit which controls the reading apparatus to read data,which is necessary for downloading an object to be printed from anexternal terminal, recorded on the portable recording medium;

[0093] a downloader which downloads the object to be printed from theexternal terminal using the data read by the reading unit; and

[0094] a printing unit which controls the printer to print the object tobe printed downloaded by the downloader.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0095] This object and other objects and advantages of the presentinvention will become more apparent upon reading of the followingdetailed description and the accompanying drawings in which:

[0096]FIG. 1 is a structural diagram of a printing system according to afirst embodiment;

[0097]FIG. 2A is a structural diagram of a portable terminal whichconstitutes the printing system in FIG. 1, FIG. 2B is a structuraldiagram of a printer which constitutes the printing system in FIG. 1,and FIG. 2C is a structural diagram of an information providing serverwhich constitutes the printing system in FIG. 1;

[0098]FIG. 3A is a diagram showing data to be stored in a request-datamemory section provided in the printer, FIG. 3B is a diagram showingdata to be stored in a condition-data memory section provided in theprinter, and FIG. 3C is a diagram showing data to be stored in acharge-data memory section provided in the printer;

[0099]FIG. 4A is a diagram showing data to be stored in a shop-datamemory section provided in the information providing server, and FIG. 4Bis a diagram showing data to be stored in an address-data memory sectionprovided in the information providing server;

[0100]FIGS. 5A and 5B are flowcharts illustrating operations which areperformed by the portable terminal, printers and information providingserver;

[0101]FIG. 6A is a diagram showing a desired location input screendisplayed by the portable terminal, FIG. 6B is a diagram showing a shopselection screen displayed by the portable terminal, FIG. 6C is adiagram showing a mode selection screen displayed by the portableterminal, FIGS. 6D and 6E are diagrams showing mail transmission screensdisplayed by the portable terminal, and FIG. 6F is a diagram showing aconfirmation mail displayed by the portable terminal;

[0102]FIG. 7 is a structural diagram of a printing system according to asecond embodiment;

[0103]FIG. 8 is an outside diagram of a printer which constitutes theprinting system in FIG. 7;

[0104]FIG. 9A is a structural diagram of a memory card to be insertedinto the printer in FIG. 7 and FIG. 9B is a diagram depicting data to bestored in the memory card in FIG. 9A;

[0105]FIG. 10 is an internal structural diagram of the printer shown inFIG. 8;

[0106]FIG. 11A is a diagram showing a mode selection screen displayed bythe printer and FIG. 11B is a diagram showing an index screen displayedby the printer;

[0107]FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a mail printing process whichis performed by the printer;

[0108]FIG. 13A is a diagram showing another structure of the printeraccording to the first embodiment and FIG. 13B is a diagram showingcontents of a confirmation mail which is sent to a portable terminal bythe printer in FIG. 13A;

[0109]FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a different structure of the printeraccording to the first embodiment;

[0110]FIG. 15 is a diagram showing data to be stored in a shop-datamemory section the printer in FIG. 14 has;

[0111]FIG. 16 is a diagram showing another structure of the printeraccording to the second embodiment;

[0112]FIG. 17 is a diagram showing another structure of the printingsystem;

[0113]FIG. 18 is a structural diagram of a printer which constitutes theprinting system in FIG. 17;

[0114]FIG. 19 is a flowchart illustrating a file printing process whichis performed by the printer in FIG. 18;

[0115]FIG. 20 is a diagram showing a file selection screen displayed bythe printer in FIG. 18;

[0116]FIG. 21 is a diagram showing a confirmation screen displayed bythe printer according to the second embodiment; and

[0117]FIG. 22 is a diagram showing a different structure of the printeraccording to the second embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0118] First Embodiment

[0119] A printing system according to the first embodiment of theinvention will be described below with reference to the accompanyingdrawings.

[0120] The following description of the first embodiment will be givenof the case where a user requests a printer located nearby to doprinting by using a portable terminal and the requested printer executesprinting.

[0121] As shown in FIG. 1, the printing system according to the firstembodiment comprises a network 1, a portable terminal 10, a plurality ofprinters 20 and an information providing server 30.

[0122] The network 1 is comprised of the Internet or the like. Theportable terminal 10, the printers 20 and the information providingserver 30 communicate with one another over the network 1.

[0123] The portable terminal 10 is a notebook type computer, a portabletelephone or a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) or the like. Theportable terminal 10 comprises an input section 11, a display section12, a communication section 13, a memory section 14 and a controlsection 15, as shown in FIG. 2A.

[0124] The input section 11 has a plurality of input keys or the likeand is operated by a user. The input section 11 inputs variousinstructions and data to the control section 15 in accordance with theuser's manipulation.

[0125] The display section 12 has a liquid crystal panel and displaysvarious screens.

[0126] The communication section 13 has a communication module or thelike and controls communication with the printers 20 and the informationproviding server 30 that is carried out over the network 1.

[0127] The memory section 14 comprises a RAM (Random Access Memory) andROM (Read Only Memory) or the like, and stores various programs and datafor operating the portable terminal 10. For example, the memory section14 stores a browser program for displaying various screens, e-mailsoftware for transmitting and receiving e-mails, and a datacommunication program for transmitting and receiving various kinds ofdata over the network 1. The memory section 14 stores a file to beprinted, which contains a text, an image and/or figure.

[0128] The control section 15 is comprised of a CPU (Central ProcessingUnit) or the like and operates the portable terminal 10 in accordancewith a program stored in the memory section 14.

[0129] For example, the control section 15 executes display of screens,transmission and reception of e-mails and transmission and reception ofdata in accordance with the program in the memory section 14. That is,the control section 15 executes the program in the memory section 14 tofunction as a display control section 15A, a mail transmission/receptionsection 15B and a data communication section 15C.

[0130] The plural printers 20 are set up in a plurality of shots, suchas convenient stores and bookstores.

[0131] Each printer 20 is given e-mail addresses whose quantity is setaccording to the printing performance. Specifically, a single e-mailaddress is assigned to each of print modes of each printer 20.

[0132] In case where one printer 20 has four print modes of“monochromatic printing, one-side printing”, “monochromatic printing,double-side printing”, “color printing, one-side printing” and “colorprinting, double-side printing”, for example, that printer 20 is givenfour e-mail addresses (e.g., print1@xx.com, print2@xx.com print3@xx.comand print4@xx.com).

[0133] As shown in FIG. 2B, each printer 20 comprises a communicationsection 21, a printing section 22, a memory section 23 and a controlsection 24.

[0134] The communication section 21 has a communication module or thelike and controls communication with the portable terminal 10 and theinformation providing server 30 that is carried out over the network 1.

[0135] The printing section 22 has sheets of print paper, a printerhead, etc. and executes printing.

[0136] The memory section 23 comprises a RAM, ROM and a hard disk or thelike, and stores a program and data for operating the printer 20. Forexample, the memory section 23 stores a plurality of applicationprograms which generate print data for executing printing. The memorysection 23 has a request-data memory section 23A, a condition-datamemory section 23B and a charge-data memory section 23C to store requestdata, condition data and charge data.

[0137] As shown in FIG. 3A, request data 210 stored in the request-datamemory section 23A represents information on a print requested by theuser. Specifically, the request data 210 is constructed by associatingpieces of data representing a sender address, a receiver address, anattached file, an extension and a charge with one another.

[0138] The “sender address” is an e-mail address the user as requesterhas. The “receiver address” is an e-mail address assigned to the printmode that is selected by the user. The “attached file” is a file to beprinted which is attached to an e-mail for requesting printing. The“extension” is an extension affixed to the file name of an attached fileand is used to specify an application program that has created theattached file. The “charge” is a charge for printing the user hasrequested.

[0139] As shown in FIG. 3B, condition data 220 stored in thecondition-data memory section 23B represents a plurality of printconditions (print modes) set in the printer 20. Specifically, thecondition data 220 is constructed by associating pieces of datarepresenting the print conditions and e-mail addresses with one another.

[0140] As shown in FIG. 3C, charge data 230 stored in the charge-datamemory section 23C represents a unit charge for printing. Specifically,the charge data 230 is constructed by associating pieces of datarepresenting the name of an application program for generating printdata, a print condition (print mode) and a unit charge with one another.Apparently, the unit charge is set for each application program to beused and each print condition.

[0141] The control section 24 is comprised of a CPU or the like andoperates the printer 20 in accordance with a program stored in thememory section 23.

[0142] For example, the control section 24 executes transmission andreception of an e-mail, calculation of a print charge, printing and soforth in accordance with the program in the memory section 23. That is,the control section 24 executes program in the memory section 23 tofunction as a mail transmission/reception section 24A, a chargecalculation section 24B and a print control section 24C.

[0143] The information providing server 30 has information on the pluralprinters 20 and provides information on the printers 20 in accordancewith a request from the portable terminal 10.

[0144] The information providing server 30 comprises a communicationsection 31, a memory section 32 and a control section 33 as shown inFIG. 2C.

[0145] The communication section 31 has a communication module or thelike and controls communication with the portable terminal 10 and theprinters 20 that is carried out over the network 1.

[0146] The memory section 32 comprises a RAM, ROM and a hard disk or thelike, and stores a program and data for operating the informationproviding server 30. For example, the memory section 32 stores data onvarious screens to be displayed by the portable terminal 10. The memorysection 32 has a shop-data memory section 32A and an address-data memorysection 32B to store shop data and address data.

[0147] As shown in FIG. 4A, shop data 310 stored in the shop-data memorysection 32A represents a shop where an associated printer 20 is located.Specifically, the shop data 310 is constructed by associating pieces ofdata representing the address and name of the shop where the associatedprinter 20 is located with one another.

[0148] As shown in FIG. 4B, address data 320 stored in the address-datamemory section 32B represents e-mail addresses each printer 20 has.Specifically, the address data 320 is constructed by associating piecesof data representing the name of a shop where an associated printer 20is located, the print conditions (print modes) the printer 20 has, ande-mail addresses assigned to the respective print modes with oneanother.

[0149] The control section 33 is comprised of a CPU or the like andoperates the information providing server 30 in accordance with aprogram stored in the memory section 32.

[0150] For example, the control section 33 executes transmission andreception of data, retrieval of a shop specified by the user andacquisition of e-mail addresses the printer 20 specified by the userhas, in accordance with the program in the memory section 32. That is,the control section 33 executes the program in the memory section 32 tofunction as a data communication section 33A, a shop retrieval section33B and an address acquisition section 33C.

[0151] The operation of the printing system according to the firstembodiment will be discussed below.

[0152]FIGS. 5A and 5B are flowcharts illustrating operations which areperformed by the portable terminal 10, the printers 20 and informationproviding server 30.

[0153] The operation of the printing system is separated into two: printrequest and execution of printing.

[0154] (Print Request)

[0155] To begin with, an operation at the time a user requests printingwill be discussed.

[0156] The portable terminal 10 accesses the information providingserver 30 over the network 1 in accordance with an operation of the user(step S101).

[0157] In response to the access from the portable terminal 10, the datacommunication section 33A of the information providing server 30acquires data of a desired location input screen for inputting a desiredlocation where printing is to be executed from the memory section 32 andtransmits the data to the portable terminal 10 (step S102). Accordingly,the data communication section 33A requests the user to enter thedesired location.

[0158] The display control section 15A of the portable terminal 10controls the display section 12 to display the desired location inputscreen upon reception of the data of the desired location input screensupplied from the information providing server 30 (step S103).

[0159] The desired location input screen is provided with space 501 toenter a desired location. The desired location input screen is alsoprovided with a Send button 502 for sending the entered location to theinformation providing server 30.

[0160] The user operates the input section 11 of the portable terminal10 to enter a desired location in the space 501. In case where thecurrent position of the user is “AB street FF city” and the user wantsto receive a print near the current position, for example, the userenters “AB street FF city” in the space 501. Then, the user clicks theSend button 502 by operating the input section 11.

[0161] The data communication section 15C of the portable terminal 10sends desired location data indicating the desired location entered inthe space 501 to the information providing server 30 in response toclicking made by the user (step S104).

[0162] The shop retrieval section 33B of the information providingserver 30 access the shop-data memory section 32A in response to thedesired location data supplied from the portable terminal 10. Then, theshop retrieval section 33B retrieves shops located nearby the desiredlocation indicated by the desired location data in accordance with apredetermined rule. The shop retrieval section 33B acquires the shopdata 310 of the retrieved shops from the shop-data memory section 32Aand supplies the acquired data to the data communication section 33A(step S105).

[0163] The data communication section 33A of the information providingserver 30 generates data of a shop selection screen which shows thecontents of the supplied shop data 310 and sends the generated data tothe portable terminal 10 (step S106).

[0164] The display control section 15A of the portable terminal 10controls the display section 12 to display the shop selection screenupon reception of the data of the shop selection screen supplied fromthe information providing server 30 (step S107).

[0165] As shown in FIG. 6B, the shop selection screen shows a list ofthe names and addresses of shops located near the desired location. Theshop selection screen is provided with a plurality of Select buttons 511for selecting a shop at which the user wants to receive a print. Thelist of shops includes an item “Others” to select other shops than thosedisplayed.

[0166] The user clicks one of the Select buttons 511 provided on theshop selection screen by operating the input section 11 of the portableterminal 10 to select a desired shop or “Others”.

[0167] In response to clicking made by the user, the data communicationsection 15C of the portable terminal 10 sends shop selection datarepresenting the result of selection made by the user to the informationproviding server 30 (step S108).

[0168] In response to the shop selection data supplied from the portableterminal 10, the address acquisition section 33C of the informationproviding server 30 discriminates whether the user has selected a shopor “Others” by using the supplied shop selection data (step S109).

[0169] In case where it is discriminated that “Others” has been selected(OTHER in step S109), the flow returns to step S102. Accordingly, theinformation providing server 30 requests the user to enter anotherdesired location.

[0170] In case where it is discriminated that a shop has been selected(SHOP in step S109), on the other hand, the address acquisition section33C acquires the address data 320 associated with the shop indicated bythe supplied shop selection data from the address-data memory section32B (step S110).

[0171] In case where the user has selected “BB Store” on the shopselection screen exemplified in FIG. 6B, for example, the addressacquisition section 33C acquires the address data 320 of “BB Store” fromthe address-data memory section 32B.

[0172] Subsequently, the data communication section 33A of theinformation providing server 30 generates data of a mode selectionscreen which shows the contents of the acquired address data 320 andsends the generated data to the portable terminal 10 (step S111).

[0173] Upon reception of the data of the mode selection screen suppliedfrom the information providing server 30, the display control section15A of the portable terminal 10 controls the display section 12 todisplay the mode selection screen (step S112).

[0174] As shown in FIG. 6C, the mode selection screen shows print modesof the printer 20 placed in the shop selected by the user. The modeselection screen is provided with selection buttons 521 that indicatee-mail addresses assigned to the respective print modes.

[0175] The user selects a desired print mode from among the displayedprint modes by clicking one of the selection buttons 521 by operatingthe input section 11 of the portable terminal 10.

[0176] In response to clicking made by the user, the mailtransmission/reception section 15B of the portable terminal 10 activatese-mail software. Then, the mail transmission/reception section 15Bcontrols the display section 12 to display an e-mail transmission screen(step S113).

[0177] At this time, the mail transmission/reception section 15B inputsthe e-mail address (sender address) of the user and an e-mail addressindicating the destination of an e-mail (receiver address) inpredetermined spaces 531 and 532 as shown in FIG. 6D.

[0178] The “receiver address” is an e-mail address assigned to a printmode selected on the mode selection screen by the user. In case wherethe user has selected “monochromatic printing, one-side printing” on themode selection screen exemplified in FIG. 6C, for example,“print3@xx.com” is input in the space 532.

[0179] The e-mail transmission screen is provided with space 533 where asubject is to be input and a Send button 534 for sending an email.

[0180] As shown in FIG. 6E, the user inputs a predetermined sequence ofcharacters (e.g., “print”) indicating a request for printing in thesubject space 533 by operating the input section 11 of the portableterminal 10. Next, the user attaches a file to be printed by operatingthe input section 11.

[0181] In the example given in FIG. 6E, an extension “txt” is affixed tothe file name of the attached file.

[0182] Then, the user clicks the Send button 534 provided on the e-mailtransmission screen by operating the input section 11.

[0183] In response to clicking made by the user, the mailtransmission/reception section 15B of the portable terminal 10 sends ane-mail with the attached file (step S114).

[0184] The mail transmission/reception section 24A of the printer 20that has received the e-mail from the portable terminal 10 discriminatesfrom the subject “print” of the received e-mail that the received e-mailis requesting printing. Then, the mail transmission/reception section24A associates pieces of data on the sender address, receiver address,attached file and the extension included in the received e-mail with oneanother and stores them as request data 210 in the request-data memorysection 23A (step S115).

[0185] Subsequently, the charge calculation section 24B of the printer20 calculates a charge for printing requested by the user and adds thecharge to the request data 210 stored in step S115 (step S116).

[0186] Specifically, based on the extension included in the request data210 stored in step S115, the charge calculation section 24B specifies anapplication program which has been used to create the attached file,i.e., an application program which is to be used to create print data.The charge calculation section 24B also specifies the print modeselected by the user, by using the receiver address in the request data210 stored in step S115 and the condition data 220 in the condition-datamemory section 23B. Further, the charge calculation section 24B acquiresthe volume of the attached file included in the request data 210 storedin step S115. Then, the charge calculation section 24B acquires a unitcharge associated with the specified application program and print modefrom the charge data 230 in the charge-data memory section 23C. Thecharge calculation section 24B then acquires a charge by multiplying theacquired unit charge by the volume of the attached file and adds thecharge to the request data 210.

[0187] The mail transmission/reception section 24A of the printer 20generates data of a confirmation mail indicating the charge obtained bythe charge calculation section 24B and sends the generated data to therequester's portable terminal 10 (step S117).

[0188] Upon reception of the data of the confirmation mail supplied fromthe printer 20, the mail transmission/reception section 15B of theportable terminal 10 controls the display section 12 to display theconfirmation mail (step S118).

[0189] The confirmation mail shows the location of the shop where theprinter 20 selected by the user is placed, the charge for printing,etc., as shown in FIG. 6F.

[0190] The user confirms the contents of the displayed confirmationmail. In case where the user requests for printing, the user clicks aReply button 551 provided in the confirmation mail by operating theinput section 11.

[0191] In response to clicking made by the user, the mailtransmission/reception section 15B returns the confirmation mail to theprinter 20 (step S119). This completes the request for printing made tothe printer 20 by the user.

[0192] In case where the confirmation mail is not returned within apredetermined time, the mail transmission/reception section 24A of theprinter 20 discriminates that a request for printing has been canceled.In that case, the mail transmission/reception section 24A deletes therequest data 210 for which no reply has been made from the request-datamemory section 23A.

[0193] (Execution of Printing)

[0194] An operation in case printing requested by the user is executedwill be discussed.

[0195] In case of executing printing, the user displays the confirmationmail shown in FIG. 6F again on the display section 12 by operating theinput section 11.

[0196] The mail transmission/reception section 15B controls the displaysection 12 in accordance with the user's operation and displays theconfirmation mail shown in FIG. 6F again (step S120).

[0197] Then, the user clicks the Reply button 551 by operating the inputsection 11.

[0198] In response to clicking made by the user, the mailtransmission/reception section 15B sends the confirmation mail in FIG.6F back to the printer 20 again (step S121). This instructs the printer20 to execute printing.

[0199] When the confirmation mail is sent back, the print controlsection 24C of the printer 20 acquires the request data 210 of the userwho has instructed the execution of printing from the request-datamemory section 23A by using the sender address included in the returnedconfirmation mail (step S122).

[0200] Subsequently, the print control section 24C specifies anapplication program for generating print data from the extensionincluded in the acquired request data 210 (step S123).

[0201] Then, the print control section 24C activates the specifiedapplication program and generates print data for printing the attachedfile (step S124).

[0202] Thereafter, the print control section 24C controls the printingsection 22 to execute printing the attached file by using the generatedprint data (step S125). As a result, the contents of the attached file(text, an image and/or a figure or the like) are printed on paper.

[0203] Meantime, after sending the confirmation mail back, the user paysthe charge at the selected shop and receives the print.

[0204] The use of this printing system can allow a user even out of anoffice, for example, can execute printing a file by using the portableterminal.

[0205] As described above, a request for printing is made via an email.This makes it unnecessary to provide the printer 20 near the portableterminal 10. In other words, even if the current location of the user isremote from a desired location where the user wants to make a print,printing can be executed easily.

[0206] If multiple printers 20 are provided at multiple locations, theuser can easily execute printing a file anytime and anywhere.

[0207] The capability of executing printing anytime and anywhere canallow the user to easily confirm the contents of a file on paper even ifthe contents of the file cannot be confirmed sufficiently on the smallscreen of the portable terminal 10.

[0208] The printer 20 specifies the application program that has createdthe attached file and generates print data using the specifiedapplication program. This eliminates the need for the portable terminal10 to have the application program that has created the attached file.That is, the user can print a file by using even the portable terminal10 which has a small memory capacity.

[0209] Printing is executed as the user sends a confirmation mail backagain. This can prevent erroneous execution of printing, thus preventingwasteful use of paper.

[0210] The user can send a confirmation mail back at the user'sconvenience. In other words, the user can adjust the timing of executingprinting at the user's convenience. For example, the user can instructthe execution of printing immediately before going to the selected shop.Accordingly, the user can avoid waiting for printing to endunnecessarily.

[0211] A single e-mail address is assigned to each print mode of theprinter 20. This can allow the user to easily change the print mode bychanging the destination of an e-mail.

[0212] Second Embodiment

[0213] A printing system according to the second embodiment of theinvention will be described below with reference to the accompanyingdrawings.

[0214] The following description of the second embodiment will be givenof the case where a user operates a printer to download an e-mail from amail server and make printing.

[0215] As shown in FIG. 7, the printing system according to the secondembodiment comprises a public telephone network 2, an Internet 3, aprinter 40, a plurality of mail servers 60 and a plurality of terminaldevices 70.

[0216] The printer 40 is sited in a company or public facility. Theprinter 40 is a multi-function printer (MFP) equipped with a printercapability, copy capability, facsimile capability and so forth.

[0217] The printer 40 is connected to the mail servers 60 via the publictelephone network 2. The printer 40 downloads an e-mail addressed to auser from a predetermined mail server 60 and prints the e-mail.

[0218] Each mail server 60 is managed by an Internet provider or thelike. Each mail server 60 is connected over the Internet 3 to the pluralterminal devices 70, such as a work station, a personal computer and aportable telephone.

[0219] Each mail server 60 comprises a reception server 60A whichexclusively receives e-mails and a transmission server 60B whichexclusively sends e-mails and intervenes transmission and reception ofe-mails that are carried out among the terminal devices 70.

[0220] An e-mail that has been sent by the user using a terminal device70 is transmitted, via the transmission server 60B of the mail server 60that is managed by the provider with whom the user has made a contract,to the reception server 60A of a mail server 60 which is managed by aprovider with whom a user at the transmission destination has made acontract. The reception server 60A that has received the e-mail storesthe received e-mail in a predetermined mail box. In case where the useracquires an e-mail via a terminal device 70, the user operates theterminal device 70 to access the mail server 60 for which the user hasmade a contract and download e-mails addressed to the user stored in thepredetermined mail box.

[0221] Transmission and reception of e-mails are executed via the pluralmail servers 60 in this manner.

[0222] The detailed structure of the printer 40 will be discussed below.

[0223] As shown in FIG. 8, an openable cover 40A is provided at the topportion of the body of the printer 40. A display panel 40B and aplurality of operation buttons 40C are provided adjacent to the cover40A.

[0224] The display panel 40B is comprised of a touch panel. The displaypanel 40B is provided to display various screens and to allow the userto input various instructions and data.

[0225] The plural operation buttons 40C are provided to allow the userto input various instructions and data.

[0226] A reading apparatus 45 having a card slot 40D is assembled in theside portion of the body of the printer 40. A memory card 5 owned by theuser is inserted into the card slot 40D. The reading apparatus 45 readsdata recorded on the inserted memory card 5.

[0227] The memory card 5 is a portable recording medium such as an ICcard or a magnetic card. A memory section 5A is provided on the surfaceof the memory card 5 as shown in FIG. 9A. The memory section 5A is an ICchip when the memory card 5 is an IC card and a magnetic tape when thememory card 5 is a magnetic card. FIG. 9A shows an example of the memorycard 5 as an IC card.

[0228] The memory section 5A stores at least data needed to download ane-mail addressed to the user from the mail server 60.

[0229] Data needed to download an e-mail, as shown in FIG. 9B, consistsof data representing connection information for connecting the printer40 to the mail server 60, a user ID, a password, an e-mail address andso forth. The connection information includes a telephone number forconnecting the printer 40 to the mail server 60.

[0230] The internal structure of the printer 40 will be discussed below.

[0231] As shown in FIG. 10, the printer 40 comprises a display section41, an input section 42, a panel controller 43, an e-mail controller 44,the reading apparatus 45, an e-mail interface (I/F) 46, a scannercontroller 47, a scanner 48, a facsimile controller 49, a facsimile I/F50, a printer controller 51, a printer engine 52, a mail buffer 53 and adata buffer 54.

[0232] The display section 41 displays various screens by driving thedisplay panel 40B using data supplied from the panel controller 43. Forexample, the display section 41 displays a mode selection screen forselecting print conditions (print modes) of the printer 40 as shown inFIG. 11A and an index screen, as shown in FIG. 11B, which shows indexesof e-mails downloaded from the mail server 60.

[0233] The input section 42 controls the display panel 40B to detect aposition on the display panel 40B which has been touched by the user.The input section 42 outputs an input signal corresponding to thedetected position to the panel controller 43. The input section 42controls the plural operation buttons 40C and sends an input signalcorresponding to any operation button 40C depressed by the user to thepanel controller 43.

[0234] For example, the input section 42 outputs the panel controller 43a mode select signal indicating the print mode selected by the user, acopy start signal instructing the initiation of copying and a FAXtransmission signal instructing facsimile transmission. Further, theinput section 42 outputs a mail select signal indicating an e-mailselected on the index screen by the user to the panel controller 43.

[0235] The panel controller 43 displays various screens by supplying thedisplay section 41 with data of screens to be displayed on the displaypanel 40B. For example, the panel controller 43 supplies the displaysection 41 with data of the mode selection screen, index screen, etc. todisplay the associated mode selection screen, index screen and so forth.

[0236] The panel controller 43 also supplies an input signal suppliedfrom the input section 42 to other controllers. For example, the panelcontroller 43 supplies the mode select signal to the printer controller51, the copy start signal and FAX transmission signal to the scannercontroller 47 and the mail select signal to the e-mail controller 44,respectively.

[0237] The e-mail controller 44 manages e-mail related operations whichare executed by the printer 40. The e-mail controller 44 has an indexgenerating section 44A, a mail identifying section 44B and a printinstructing section 44C.

[0238] The index generating section 44A accesses the mail server 60 forwhich the user has made a contract by using data read from the memorycard 5 by the reading apparatus 45. The index generating section 44Adownloads e-mails addressed to the user from the accessed mail server 60and stores them in the mail buffer 53.

[0239] The index generating section 44A generates data of the indexscreen which shows the index of an “unopened” e-mail in those e-mailsdownloaded. The index generating section 44A then sends the generateddata of the index screen to the panel controller 43.

[0240] At the time the index generating section 44A downloads an e-mail,communication between the printer 40 and the mail server 60 iscontrolled by the e-mail I/F 46. The e-mail I/F 46 has a communicationdevice (communication board) and communication software, and controlscommunication in accordance with a communication protocol for e-mails.

[0241] The mail identifying section 44B discriminates whether eache-mail downloaded is “opened” or “unopened”. The mail identifyingsection 44B extracts data of an e-mail which has been discriminated as“unopened” from the mail buffer 53. The index generating section 44Agenerates data of the index screen showing the index of the emailextracted by the mail identifying section 44B.

[0242] The print instructing section 44C instructs the printercontroller 51 to print the e-mail selected on the index screen by theuser in response to the mail select signal supplied from the panelcontroller 43.

[0243] The scanner controller 47 drives the scanner 48 in response tothe copy start signal and FAX transmission signal supplied from thepanel controller 43. Then, the scanner controller 47 converts data of animage (RGB image data) scanned by the scanner 48 to data of apredetermined format and outputs the converted data to othercontrollers.

[0244] In case where the printer 40 is set to the copy mode, forexample, i.e., when the copy start signal is supplied, the scannercontroller 47 converts data of the scanned image to print data andoutputs the print data to the printer controller 51. In case where theprinter 40 is set to the facsimile mode, i.e., when the FAX transmissionsignal is supplied, the scanner controller 47 converts data of thescanned image to facsimile data and outputs the facsimile data to thefacsimile controller 49.

[0245] The facsimile controller 49 manages facsimile related operationswhich are executed by the printer 40. The facsimile controller 49 sendsor receives facsimile data over the public telephone network 2. Whenreceiving facsimile data, the facsimile controller 49 converts thereceived facsimile data to print data and sends the print data to theprinter controller 51.

[0246] The printer controller 51 controls the printer engine 52 toexecute printing by using supplied print data or the like.

[0247] The mail buffer 53 is comprised of a memory for storing data ofe-mails. Data of an e-mail downloaded by the e-mail controller 44 istemporarily stored in the mail buffer 53.

[0248] The data buffer 54 is comprised of a plurality of memories andstores data, such as image data scanned by the scanner 48, facsimiledata and print data.

[0249] Each of the panel controller 43, the e-mail controller 44, thescanner controller 47, the facsimile controller 49 and the printercontroller 51 comprises a CPU and a memory.

[0250] Each memory stores a program for realizing the function of theassociated controller. As each CPU executes the program in theassociated memory, the function of the associated controller isrealized.

[0251] For example, the memory that constitutes the e-mail controller 44stores e-mail software. As the CPU that constitutes the e-mailcontroller 44 executes the program in that memory, the index generatingsection 44A, the mail identifying section 44B and the print instructingsection 44C are realized.

[0252] A description will now be given of how the printing systemaccording to the second embodiment prints an e-mail.

[0253]FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a mail printing process whichis performed by the printer 40.

[0254] First, the user inserts his or her own memory card 5 into thecard slot 40D of the printer 40.

[0255] As the memory card 5 is inserted into the card slot 40D, thereading apparatus 45 reads data (connection information, user ID,password, e-mail address, etc.) stored in the memory section 5A of thememory card 5. Then, the reading apparatus 45 sends the read data to thee-mail controller 44 (step S201).

[0256] In response to the data supplied from the reading apparatus 45,the index generating section 44A of the e-mail controller 44 accessesthe mail server 60 that is managed by the provider with whom the userhas made a contract, by using the supplied data (step S202).

[0257] Subsequently, the index generating section 44A downloads emailsaddressed to the user from the accessed mail server 60 by using thesupplied data and stores the e-mails in the mail buffer 53 (step S203).

[0258] The mail identifying section 44B of the e-mail controller 44discriminates whether each e-mail stored in the mail buffer 53 is“opened” or “unopened”. The mail identifying section 44B extracts dataof an e-mail which has been discriminated as “unopened” from the mailbuffer 53 and supplies the data to the index generating section 44A(step S204).

[0259] The index generating section 44A creates the index of each“unopened” e-mail using the supplied data. Next, the index generatingsection 44A generates data of the index screen that shows the createdindexes and outputs the data to the panel controller 43 (step S205).

[0260] The panel controller 43 supplies the display section 41 with thedata of the index screen supplied from the index generating section 44Athereby to display the index screen on the display panel 40B (stepS206).

[0261] The user touches one of the indexes of e-mails shown on the indexscreen which the user wants to print.

[0262] The input section 42 detects the position on the index screentouched by the user. Then, the input section 42 sends a signalcorresponding to the detected position, that is, the mail select signaldesignating an e-mail selected by the user to the panel controller 43.The panel controller 43 supplies the mail select signal supplied fromthe input section 42 to the e-mail controller 44.

[0263] After the index generating section 44A outputs data of the indexscreen in step S205, the print instructing section 44C of the emailcontroller 44 discriminates whether or not the mail select signal hasbeen supplied. Accordingly, the print instructing section 44Cdiscriminates whether the user has selected an e-mail to be printed ornot (step S207).

[0264] In case where it is discriminated that the mail select signal hasnot been supplied, i.e., in case where an e-mail to be printed has notbeen selected (NO in step S207), the flow returns to step S207.

[0265] In case where it is discriminated that the mail select signal hasbeen supplied, i.e., in case where an e-mail to be printed has beenselected (YES in step S207), the print instructing section 44C outputs amail print signal instructing printing of the e-mail selected by theuser to the printer controller 51. The printer controller 51 reads dataof the e-mail selected by the user from the mail buffer 53 in responseto the mail print signal supplied from the print instructing section 44C(step S208).

[0266] Then, the printer controller 51 drives the printer engine 52 toexecute printing using the read data (step S209).

[0267] As a result, the e-mail selected by the user is printed on paper.The user receives the printed e-mail and removes the memory card 5 fromthe printer 40.

[0268] After the memory card 5 is removed from the printer 40, the printinstructing section 44C of the e-mail controller 44 erases data of thee-mails stored in the mail buffer 53 when a predetermined period of timepasses. Accordingly, the print instructing section 44C prevents thecontents of e-mails from being read by other persons.

[0269] Using this printing system, the user can read an e-mail addressedto the user even if the user does not carry around a portable terminal,such as a notebook type computer or a portable telephone.

[0270] The user can print an e-mail simply by inserting the memory card5 into the printer 40 and selecting a desired e-mail to be printed. Thatis, the operation the user does to print an e-mail is very simple. Thiscan allow even a user who is not familiar with the operation of acomputer to easily read an e-mail.

[0271] If multiple printers having functions similar to those of theprinter 40 are placed at multiple locations, the user can print and readan e-mail anytime and anywhere.

[0272] The printer 40 is occupied substantially by a single user untilprinting of an e-mail is completed since the insertion of the memorycard 5 into the printer 40. This prevents the contents of e-mails frombeing read by other persons.

[0273] The printer 40 prints only an e-mail selected by the user, notevery e-mail downloaded, so that wasteful printing can be avoided.

[0274] The printer 40 extracts an “unopened” e-mail and presents it tothe user. In other words, the printer 40 does not presents the user withthose e-mails that have already been read by the user. This can allowthe user to efficiently select an e-mail to be printed.

[0275] Modifications

[0276] The printing systems according to the first and secondembodiments can be modified in various forms. Some of the modificationswill be illustrated below.

[0277] The printer 20 of the first embodiment may start printing inresponse to the confirmation mail returned in the step S119. This canpermit printing to be completed before the user goes to the selectedshop.

[0278] In this case, the print control section 24C prints the e-mailaddress of the user together with the contents of the file. The userpresents his or her e-mail address to a shop clerk and receives a filewhich has already been printed. This way the user need not wait for theend of printing unnecessarily. Because returning the confirmation mailas done in step S120 is unnecessary, the number of communicationsbetween the portable terminal 10 and the printer 20 is reduced.

[0279] The printer 20 according to the first embodiment may issue areceipt number to the user and start printing upon entry of the receiptnumber.

[0280] In this case, the printer 20 further comprises a number issuingsection 24D which issues a receipt number and a number input section 25which is comprised of a plurality of input buttons, as shown in FIG.13A.

[0281] The number issuing section 24D of the control section 24 issues areceipt number in response to an e-mail sent in the step S114. Thenumber issuing section 24D adds the issued receipt number to the requestdata 210 stored in the request-data memory section 23A in step S115.

[0282] The mail transmission/reception section 24A generates data of aconfirmation mail as shown in FIG. 13B and sends the data to theportable terminal 10 in the process of the step S117.

[0283] As shown in FIG. 13B, the confirmation mail shows the receiptnumber issued by the number issuing section 24D in addition to thelocation of a shop selected by the user and a charge for printing.

[0284] The user goes to the selected shop after receiving theconfirmation mail. Then, the user input the receipt number by operatingthe number input section 25.

[0285] The number input section 25 outputs the receipt number of theuser to the control section 24 in accordance with the user's operation.

[0286] In response to the supplied receipt number, the print controlsection 24C of the control section 24 acquires the request data 210including the supplied receipt number from the request-data memorysection 23A.

[0287] The subsequent processes are the same as those starting at stepS123.

[0288] This modification makes it unnecessary for the user to return aconfirmation mail, thereby reducing the number of communications betweenthe portable terminal 10 and the printer 20.

[0289] The printer 20 according to the first embodiment may directlycharge the user.

[0290] In this case, the printer 20 further has an address input section26 and a charge deposition section 27, as shown in FIG. 14.

[0291] The address input section 26 has a plurality of input buttons toinput an e-mail address. The address input section 26 inputs the e-mailaddress of the user to the control section 24 in accordance with theuser's manipulation.

[0292] The charge deposition section 27 has a money slot to place coinsand paper money, discriminates the amount of money deposited by the userand informs the control section 24 of the amount.

[0293] After confirming the place of the selected shop, a charge, etc.through the confirmation mail supplied from the printer 20, the usergoes to the shop without returning the confirmation mail. Then, the useroperates the address input section 26 of the printer 20 to input his orher e-mail address and places money for the informed charge in thecharge deposition section 27.

[0294] The address input section 26 inputs the e-mail address of theuser to the control section 24 in accordance with the user'smanipulation.

[0295] The charge deposition section 27 discriminates the amount ofmoney deposited by the user and informs the control section 24 of thediscriminated amount.

[0296] The print control section 24C of the control section 24 acquiresthe request data 210 from the request-data memory section 23A using thee-mail address supplied from the address input section 26.

[0297] Then, the print control section 24C controls the printing section22 to start printing when the amount informed by the charge depositionsection 27 becomes equal to or greater than the amount indicated by theacquired request data 210.

[0298] This modification makes it unnecessary for the user to return aconfirmation mail. This reduces the number of communications between theportable terminal 10 and the printer 20. Because the user can obtain aprint without intervention of a shop clerk, it is possible to preventthe contents of a print from being read by other persons.

[0299] The information providing server 30 according to the firstembodiment may further have data, such as maps indicating shops and thelocations of the printers 20 and telephone numbers of the shops.Specifically, the shop data 310 to be stored in the shop-data memorysection 32A may further include data, such as maps indicating shops andthe locations of the printers 20 and telephone numbers of the shops, asshown in FIG. 15. This structure can provide the user with the locationsof the printers 20 more specifically. The user can therefore grasp thelocations of the printers more accurately.

[0300] In case where the user knows the e-mail address of a printer 20,the user may request the printer 20 to make a print without receivinginformation about the printer 20 from the information providing server30. In this case, the processes from step S101 to S112 illustrated inFIGS. 5A and 5B are omitted.

[0301] The unit charge for printing that has mentioned in the foregoingdescription of the first embodiment may be other than a charge per 1KBytes exemplified in FIG. 3C. For example, the unit charge may be acharge per 10 KBytes or per 100 KBytes or a charge per a sheet of paperto be used for printing.

[0302] The e-mail for instructing the execution of printing and thee-mail for requesting printing that have been mentioned in the foregoingdescription of the first embodiment may differ from each other. Forexample, the confirmation mail sent from the printer 40 may be used torequest printing and an e-mail which has a predetermined sequence ofcharacters (e.g., “GO”) in a subject space may be used to instruct theexecution of printing.

[0303] In this case, the user returns the confirmation mail in the stepS119 and inputs a predetermined sequence of characters (e.g., “GO”) inthe subject space of the confirmation mail and sends the mail in thestep S121.

[0304] With the design, when a communication failure or the like occurs,for example, printing will not be executed erroneously even if the mailserver sends the same confirmation mail twice to the printer 20.

[0305] In the first embodiment, the charge calculation section 24B ofthe printer 20 may bill the user for charges over a predetermined period(e.g., in a day, a week or a month). In this case, the mailtransmission/reception section 24A of the printer 20 request the user ofinformation on the billed in order to specify where to bill for chargesat the time of accepting a print request. The information on the billedincludes, for example, the name, address and the bank account of theuser and/or a credit card number or the like of the user. Then, the mailtransmission/reception section 24A adds the information on the billedsupplied from the user to the request data 210. The charge calculationsection 24B calculates a total charge over a predetermined period userby user by using the request data 210. Then, the charge calculationsection 24B bills each user for the charge using the information on thebilled included in the request data 210. This design can ensureefficient collection of charges for printing.

[0306] The e-mail controller 44 of the printer 40 according to thesecond embodiment may further have a mail sending section 44D whichsends a reply mail to a printed e-mail.

[0307] In this case, the memory card 5 or the mail buffer 53 has data offixed statements for replies stored in advance. The fixed statements arestatements generally used, such as “Acknowledged” and “Received”.

[0308] The mail sending section 44D acquires data of a fixed statementfrom the mail buffer 53 in response to the user's operation.Alternatively, the mail sending section 44D acquires data of a fixedstatement from data read by the reading apparatus 45.

[0309] The mail sending section 44D generates data of a statement listscreen which shows a list of fixed statements by using the acquireddata. The mail sending section 44D sends the generated data of thestatement list screen to the panel controller 43 to display thestatement list screen on the display panel 40B. Accordingly, the mailsending section 44D can allow the user to select a fixed statement to beused in the reply mail.

[0310] The user touches one of the fixed statements shown in thestatement list screen which is used in the reply mail. This causes astatement select signal indicating the fixed statement selected by theuser to be supplied to the mail sending section 44D via the inputsection 42 and the panel controller 43.

[0311] In response to the supplied statement select signal, the mailsending section 44D extracts data on the subject, the e-mail address ofthe sender and the e-mail address of the receiver from data of theprinted e-mail.

[0312] The mail sending section 44D then creates a reply mail using thefixed statement indicated by the supplied statement select signal usingthe extracted data and sends out the reply mail.

[0313] This modification can allow the user to send the reply mailimmediately after confirming the contents of the e-mail.

[0314] The printer 40 according to the second embodiment may downloadand print not only an e-mail but also a file which is created by theuser using the terminal device 70 and represents a text, an image and/ora figure or the like.

[0315] In this case, the printer 40 is connected to a plurality ofterminal devices 70 via a network 6 which is constituted by a publictelephone network and the Internet or the like, as shown in FIG. 17.

[0316] As shown in FIG. 18, the printer 40 has a downloader 55 whichdownloads files from the terminal devices 70 and a communication I/F 56which controls communication between the printer 40 and the terminaldevices 70, in place of the e-mail controller 44 and the e-mail I/F 46.

[0317] The printer controller 51 has a plurality of application programsfor converting data of downloaded files to print data.

[0318] Each terminal device 70 stores files created by each user.

[0319] The memory section 5A of the memory card 5 owned by the userstores data necessary to download a file to be printed from eachterminal device 70. The data needed to download a file consists of datawhich represents, for example, connection information (including atelephone number or URL (Uniform Resource Locator) or the like) forconnection to each terminal device 70, the user ID and password the userhas.

[0320]FIG. 19 is a flowchart illustrating a file printing process whichis performed by the printer 40.

[0321] When the user inserts the memory card 5 into the card slot 40D,the reading apparatus 45 reads data stored in the memory section 5A ofthe memory card 5 and outputs the data to the downloader 55 (step S301).

[0322] The downloader 55 accesses to the terminal device 70 which storesfiles created by the user by using the supplied data (step S302).

[0323] The downloader 55 acquires information of each file (a storagelocation, a file name, etc.) stored in the accessed terminal device 70from the terminal device 70 (step S303).

[0324] Subsequently, the downloader 55 generates data of a fileselection screen showing storage locations and names of files stored inthe terminal device 70 using the acquired information and sends the datato the panel controller 43. Accordingly, the downloader 55 displays thefile selection screen on the display panel 40B (step S304).

[0325] The file selection screen shows the names of files stored in theterminal device 70 in a tree form, as shown in FIG. 20.

[0326] The user touches the name of a desired file to be printedselected from file names shown on the file selection screen. This causesa file select signal designating the file selected by the user to besupplied to the downloader 55 via the input section 42 and the panelcontroller 43.

[0327] In response to the supplied file select signal, the downloader 55downloads the file indicated by the file select signal and outputs thefile to the printer controller 51 (step S305).

[0328] The printer controller 51 specifies an application program whichhas been used to create the file, i.e., the application program that isused in creating print data from the extension attached to the name ofthe supplied file (step S306).

[0329] Then, the printer controller 51 activates the specifiedapplication program and generates print data for printing the file (stepS307).

[0330] Thereafter, the printer controller 51 controls the printer engine52 and prints the file using the generated print data (step S308).

[0331] This design can allow the user to execute printing of a filewithout carrying around a portable terminal, such as a notebook typecomputer or a portable telephone.

[0332] If multiple printers having functions similar to those of theprinter 40 are placed at multiple locations, the user can easily printand read an e-mail anytime and anywhere.

[0333] The print instructing section 44C of the printer 40 according tothe second embodiment may be designed to delete from the mail buffer 53those e-mails when a predetermined period of time has passed since thememory card 5 is removed from the printer 40.

[0334] The second embodiment may be modified in such a way that the usercan instruct deletion of an e-mail stored in the mail buffer 53.

[0335] In this case, the printer controller 51 of the printer 40generates data of a confirmation screen for confirming deletion of ane-mail upon completion of printing of the e-mail and outputs the data tothe panel controller 43. Consequently, the printer controller 51displays the confirmation screen as shown in FIG. 21 on the displaypanel 40B.

[0336] When the user touches a Delete button on the confirmation screen,an instruction to delete an e-mail is supplied to the print instructingsection 44C via the input section 42 and the panel controller 43. Inresponse to the supplied deletion instruction, the print instructingsection 44C deletes the e-mail addressed to the user stored in the mailbuffer 53.

[0337] This design can reliably prevent the contents of an e-mail frombeing read by other persons.

[0338] In the second embodiment, the index generating section 44A maydownload only “unopened” e-mails from the mail server 60. This designcan make the mail identifying section 44B unnecessary.

[0339] The structures of the printers 40 shown in FIGS. 16 and 18 may becombined. In this case, the downloader 55 can download a statementcreated by the user using the terminal device 70 from the terminaldevice 70 and the mail sending section 44D can create and send a replymail including the downloaded statement.

[0340] The memory card 5 according to the second embodiment may storedata needed to connect the printer 40 to a plurality of mail servers 60in case where, for example, the user has made contracts with a pluralityof providers.

[0341] In this case, the index generating section 44A generates data ofa server selection screen for selecting the mail server 60 to connect toand displays the serve selection screen on the display panel 40B in theaforementioned manner. Accordingly, the index generating section 44Aallows the user to select the mail server 60 to connect to and downloadsan e-mail addressed to the user from the mail server 60 selected by theuser.

[0342] As shown in FIG. 22, the printer 40 according to the secondembodiment may further include a writing apparatus 57 which writes datain the memory card 5 inserted in the card slot 40D. The index generatingsection 44A may supply data of an e-mail selected by the user to thewriting apparatus 57 which in turn may record the supplied data of thee-mail into the memory card 5.

[0343] This modification can allow the user to reconfirm the contents ofan e-mail at home and in an office or the like before executingprinting. It is to be noted however that an apparatus similar to thereading apparatus 45 equipped on the printer 40 should be provided athome and in an office or the like.

[0344] The mail identifying section 44B of the e-mail controller 44according to the second embodiment may extract not only an “unopened”e-mail but also an “opened” e-mail, all e-mails downloaded or e-mailswhose reception dates lie within a predetermined period of time.

[0345] The memory card 5 according to the second embodiment can berealized by storing data for connecting the printer 40 to the mailserver 60 or the terminal device 70 in an ordinary IC card or a magneticcard.

[0346] The printer 40 according to the second embodiment can be realizedby adding printed circuit boards for the e-mail controller 44 and thedownloader 55 to an ordinary multi-function printer (MFP) which isplaced in a company or the like. This makes a large investment forequipment unnecessary.

[0347] The printer 40 according to the second embodiment may not beequipped with a facsimile capability as long as it can download andprint an e-mail or a file.

[0348] The portable recording medium that is to be inserted in theprinter 40 is not limited to the memory card 5. For example, theportable recording medium may be an MD (Mini Disc), CD (Compact Disc),DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) or the like.

[0349] The printers 20 according to the first embodiment may be providedin companies or public facilities as well as in shops.

[0350] The printers 40 according to the second embodiment may beprovided not only in companies or public facilities but also in shops,such as convenient stores or bookstores.

[0351] The print conditions mentioned in the foregoing description ofthe first and second embodiments are not limited to the four print modesof “monochromatic printing, one-side printing”, “monochromatic printing,double-side printing”, “color printing, one-side printing” and “colorprinting, double-side printing”. For example, the print conditions mayinclude the settings of the direction of paper (vertical/horizontal),the density of ink and the number of copies.

[0352] The network 1 according to the first embodiment may include someof the public telephone network, WAN (Wide Area Network) and LAN (LocalArea Network). The public telephone network 2 according to the secondembodiment may include some of the Internet, WAN and LAN, and theInternet 3 may include some of the public telephone network, WAN andLAN.

[0353] The structures of the printing systems according to the firstembodiment, the second embodiment and the modifications thereof may becombined adequately as needed in accordance with the purpose of the useof the printing systems.

[0354] The apparatus of the present invention can be realized by ageneral computer connectable to a printer or a general computerconnectable to a printer and a reader which reads data from a portablerecording medium, without the need for a dedicated apparatus. A programand data for controlling a computer to execute the above-describedprocesses may be recorded on a medium (a floppy disk, CD-ROM, DVD or thelike) and distributed, and the program may be installed into thecomputer and run on an OS (Operating System) to execute theabove-described processes, thereby achieving the apparatus of thepresent invention. The above program and data may be stored in a diskdevice or the like included in the server device on the Internet, andembedded in a carrier wave. The program and data embedded in the carrierwave may be downloaded into the computer so as to realize the apparatusof the present invention.

[0355] Various embodiments and changes may be made thereonto withoutdeparting from the broad spirit and scope of the invention. Theabove-described embodiments are intended to illustrate the presentinvention, not to limit the scope of the present invention. The scope ofthe present invention is shown by the attached claims rather than theembodiments. Various modifications made within the meaning of anequivalent of the claims of the invention and within the claims are tobe regarded to be in the scope of the present invention.

[0356] This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No.2001-370239 filed on Dec. 4, 2001 and Japanese Patent Application No.2001-401306 filed on Dec. 28, 2001, and including the specifications,claims, drawings and summaries. The disclosure of the above JapanesePatent Applications are incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety.

What is claimed is:
 1. A printing apparatus comprising: a receiving unitwhich receives an e-mail to be sent from an external terminal; a datagenerating unit which generates print data for printing a file attachedto said e-mail received by said receiving unit; and a printing unitwhich prints said file by using said print data generated by said datagenerating unit.
 2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, whereinsaid printing apparatus further includes a memory unit which stores aplurality of application programs for generating said print data, andsaid data generating unit specifies an application program correspondingto a type of said file and generates said print data using saidspecified application program.
 3. The printing apparatus according toclaim 2, wherein said printing apparatus has a plurality of printconditions to which different e-mail addresses are respectivelyassigned, said printing apparatus further includes a conditionspecifying unit which specifies a print condition from an e-mail addressindicating a destination of said e-mail received by said receiving unit,and said printing unit prints said file under said print conditionspecified by said condition specifying unit.
 4. The printing apparatusaccording to claim 3, wherein said printing apparatus further includes:a charge calculating unit which acquires a charge for printing saidfile; and a charge indicating unit which indicates said charge acquiredby said charge calculating unit to a sender of said e-mail.
 5. Theprinting apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said charge indicatingunit indicates said charge to said sender by sending an e-mailindicating said charge.
 6. The printing apparatus according to claim 3,wherein said printing unit starts printing in response to a printexecution instruction from a sender of said e-mail.
 7. The printingapparatus according to claim 6, wherein said print execution instructionis supplied to said printing unit by an email.
 8. The printing apparatusaccording to claim 3, wherein said printing apparatus further includes:a number issuing unit which issues a receipt number to a sender of saide-mail, and a number input unit through which said sender inputs saidreceipt number; and said printing unit starts printing in response tosaid sender's inputting said receipt number by operating said numberinput unit.
 9. The printing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein saidprinting apparatus further includes an amount discriminating unit whichhas a money slot to place money and discriminates an amount of moneydeposited, and said printing unit starts printing when said amount ofmoney discriminated by said amount discriminating unit becomes equal toor greater than said charge acquired by said charge calculating unit.10. A printing apparatus comprising: a downloader which downloads anobject to be printed, stored in an external terminal, from said externalterminal; and a printing unit which prints said object to be printeddownloaded by said downloader.
 11. The printing apparatus according toclaim 10, wherein said printing apparatus further includes: a mediumslot to insert a portable recording medium on which data for connectingsaid printing apparatus to said external terminal is stored, and areading unit which reads said data recorded on said portable recordingmedium inserted into said medium slot; and said downloader downloadssaid object to be printed from said external terminal using said dataread by said reading unit.
 12. The printing apparatus according to claim11, wherein said downloader downloads one or more pieces of data storedin said external terminal, said printing apparatus further includes anindex generating unit which generates indexes of said one or more piecesof data downloaded by said downloader, and a display unit which displaysan index screen showing said indexes generated by said index generatingunit, thereby allowing a user to select said object to be printed, andsaid printing unit prints, as said object to be printed, data selectedon said index screen by said user.
 13. The printing apparatus accordingto claim 12, wherein said one or more pieces of data are one or moree-mails sent to said user, said printing apparatus further includes amail extracting unit which extracts an unopened e-mail from said one ormore e-mails downloaded by said downloader, and said display unitdisplays an index screen showing an index of said e-mail extracted bysaid mail extracting unit.
 14. The printing apparatus according to claim13, wherein said printing apparatus further includes a mail sending unitwhich sends a reply mail corresponding to an e-mail printed by saidprinting unit.
 15. The printing apparatus according to claim 14, whereinsaid printing apparatus further includes a statement memory unit whichstores data on a plurality of fixed statements, said display unitdisplays a statement list screen showing a list of said plurality offixed statements stored in said statement memory unit, thereby allowinga user to select a fixed statement to be used in said reply mail, andsaid mail sending unit prepares said reply mail using said fixedstatement selected on said statement list screen by said user.
 16. Theprinting apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said printingapparatus further includes a statement acquisition unit which acquiresreply statement data to be used in said reply mail from an externaldevice, and said mail sending unit prepares said reply mail using saidreply statement data acquired by said statement acquisition unit. 17.The printing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said portablerecording medium stores reply statement data to be used in said replymail, said reading unit reads said reply statement data from saidportable recording medium inserted into the medium slot, and said mailsending unit prepares said reply mail using said reply statement dataread by said reading unit.
 18. The printing apparatus according to claim13, wherein said printing apparatus further includes a deleting unitwhich deletes data of said e-mail downloaded by said downloader.
 19. Theprinting apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said downloaderacquires storage information indicating names and storage positions ofone or more pieces of data, stored in said external terminal, from saidexternal terminal, said printing apparatus further includes a displayunit which displays a data list screen showing a list of data stored insaid external terminal using said storage information acquired by saiddownloader, thereby allowing a user to select an object to be printed,and said downloader downloads data selected on said data list screen bysaid user as said object to be printed.
 20. A printing systemcomprising: one or more printing apparatuses that print a file attachedto an e-mail sent from a terminal device which is operated by a user;and an information providing terminal which has information on said oneor more printing apparatuses and provides said user with saidinformation on said one or more printing apparatuses, said informationproviding terminal including an apparatus information memory unit whichstores said information on said one or more printing apparatuses and atransmitting unit which sends said terminal device that informationamong pieces of information stored in said apparatus information memoryunit which is about a printing apparatus selected by said user, therebyproviding said user with said information on said printing apparatusselected by said user.
 21. The printing system according to claim 20,wherein said information providing terminal further includes: a locationmemory unit which stores location data indicating set-up locations ofsaid one or more printing apparatuses, a requesting unit which makes arequest of said user to provide a desired location to execute printing,a retrieval unit which retrieves one or more printing apparatuseslocated near said desired location provided by said user, in accordancewith a predetermined rule, by using said location data stored in saidlocation memory unit, and a location providing unit which provides saiduser with said one or more printing apparatuses retrieved by saidretrieval unit by sending the set-up locations of said one or moreprinting apparatuses retrieved by said retrieval unit to said terminaldevice; and said transmitting unit provides said user with informationof a printing apparatus set up at that one of said set-up locations ofsaid one or more printing apparatuses provided by said locationproviding unit which is selected by said user.
 22. The printing systemaccording to claim 21, wherein each of said one or more printingapparatuses has a plurality of print conditions to which differente-mail addresses are respectively is assigned, and each of said one ormore printing apparatuses comprises: a condition specifying unit whichspecifies a print condition from an e-mail address indicating adestination of an e-mail sent from said terminal device, and a printingunit which prints said file under said print condition specified by saidcondition specifying unit.
 23. A printing method comprising: a mailsending step of allowing a terminal device operated by a user to send aprinting apparatus an e-mail to which a file to be printed is attached;a receiving step of allowing said printing apparatus to receive saide-mail sent from said external terminal; a data generating step ofallowing said printing apparatus to generate print data for printing afile attached to said received e-mail; and a printing step of allowingsaid print apparatus to print said file by using said print datagenerated in said data generating step.
 24. The printing methodaccording to claim 23, wherein said printing apparatus has a pluralityof print conditions to which different e-mail addresses are respectivelyassigned, said printing method further includes a condition specifyingstep of allowing said printing apparatus to specify a print conditionfrom an e-mail address indicating a destination of said e-mail, and saidprinting step has a step of allowing said printing apparatus to printsaid file under said print condition specified in said conditionspecifying step.
 25. A printing method, which is executed by a printingapparatus, comprising: a downloading step of downloading an object to beprinted, stored in an external terminal, from said external terminal;and a printing step of printing said object to be printed downloaded insaid downloading step.
 26. The printing method according to claim 25,wherein said printing apparatus has: a medium slot to insert a portablerecording medium on which data for connecting said printing apparatus tosaid external terminal is stored, and said printing method furtherincludes a reading step of reading said data recorded on said portablerecording medium inserted into said medium slot; and said downloadingstep includes a step of downloading data of said object to be printedfrom said external terminal using said data read in said reading step.27. A program for allowing a computer connectable to a printer to serveas a printing apparatus comprising: a receiving unit which receives ane-mail to be sent from an external terminal; a memory unit which storesa plurality of print conditions to which different e-mail addresses arerespectively assigned; a condition specifying unit which specifies aprint condition from an e-mail address indicating a destination of saide-mail received by said receiving unit and memory contents of saidmemory unit; and a printing unit which controls said printer to print afile attached to said e-mail received by said receiving unit under saidprint condition specified by said condition specifying unit.
 28. Aprogram for allowing a computer connectable to a printer and a readingapparatus for reading data recorded on a portable recording medium toserve as a printing apparatus comprising: a reading unit which controlssaid reading apparatus to read data, which is necessary for downloadingan object to be printed from an external terminal, recorded on saidportable recording medium; a downloader which downloads said object tobe printed from said external terminal using said data read by saidreading unit; and a printing unit which controls said printer to printsaid object to be printed downloaded by said downloader.